PASADENA, Md. (WJZ)– A disturbing discovery at an Anne Arundel County community leaves neighbors outraged.

As Gigi Barnett explains, it’s also the county executive’s neighborhood.

The sign near the recreation area in the Elizabeth’s Landing community usually welcomes neighbors and visitors.

For the last two days, it’s been an eyesore. Someone spraypainted the “n” word on the sign.

“You don’t want to drive by here and look at that word. You know, nobody does,” said one person.

The racial slur is also on the jungle gym in the community’s park. So neighbors called the Homeowners Association (HOA) Office. It promised to take care of the problem in a couple of days. That wasn’t fast enough for neighbors like Jani Lee and Sara.

“We walk home from school going this way, and it was right there where my children can see it,” Lee said.

So Sara’s husband spray-painted over the word.

“My husband is African-American, I have two bi-racial children that I’m pregnant with. It’s upsetting. I can’t believe this stuff still goes on,” she said.

WJZ contacted the HOA office, and then called. There was no response.

Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold lives a few blocks away from the sign. He heard about the sign, too and made a visit the HOA office, and also filed a hate crimes report.

Reporter: “What is a reasonable time that the HOA should get to this?”
Leopold: “As soon as possible. Take care of it right away.”

And while Leopold filed a hate crimes report, police say because it doesn’t target a neighbor specifically, it does not fall in that category.

WJZ contacted the HOA office again. It never returned our phone calls.